Cell Phone Distracted Driving Emphasis Patrols in April 2018

By | April 3, 2018

There will be extra police patrols in April on Washington State roads looking for drivers who are distracted by their smartphones / electronic devices. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission has declared April “Distracted Driving Awareness Month” and over 150 law enforcement agencies will be looking closely for drivers who are using their phones.

Under the “Driving Under the Influence of Electronics” law, also known as E-DUI, drivers may not hold cell phones or watch videos while they are driving, stopped in traffic, or at a stop light. That includes tablets, laptops, games, or any hand-held electronic devices. The law restricts hands-free to a single touch.

The first E-DUI ticket will cost drivers $136. A second ticket in five years will cost $234. And the driver’s insurance company will also be notified in case of a cell phone ticket.